Veteran PTSD Therapy in Austin

A form of anxiety, post traumatic stress can develop after being exposed to trauma, whether mental or physical. Because military combatants serve in traumatic environments, military veterans disproportionately experience mental health conditions such as PTSD, depression, anxiety, traumatic brain injury, substance abuse, and other less common issues.

What Causes PTSD?

Memories and experiences are how we navigate the world, steer clear of danger, and gain insight into what works and what doesn’t. Sometimes, memories and experiences can contain such painful emotional material that they leave lasting negative impressions.

Whether you experience a traumatic event in the military or another type of trauma, it can be challenging to process and feel impossible to get through. When this happens it can provoke PTSD and other mental health issues.

Therapy for Veterans with PTSD

The average human body will return to baseline levels shortly after experiencing an overwhelming experience. In contrast, people experiencing PTSD continue to release stress-related hormones and chemicals long after the threat is gone. The following symptoms are the most common signs of PTSD.

Signs and Symptoms of PTSD in Veterans

Reliving the event

If you suffer from PTSD, you may regularly experience flashbacks, nightmares, and intrusive, upsetting memories of the traumatic event. This can involve having severe reactions to objects or situations that remind you of it.

Avoidance

Having PTSD can cause you to stay away from people, places, things, and thoughts that remind you of the event. Those close to you may comment that you seem emotionally numb or guarded, detached from everyday life, and disinterested in activities you used to enjoy.

Hyperarousal

PTSD can cause you to constantly examine your surroundings for indications of danger, no matter have safe your environment may be. This can lead to issues concentrating, increased impatience or anger, and trouble sleeping.

PTSD Therapy Treatment for Veterans

Talk therapies can be essential for treating PTSD. The two most effective forms of therapy for treating PTSD are Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) Therapy and Prolonged Exposure (PE) Therapy. Medical guidelines strongly recommend both of these approaches for the treatment of posttraumatic stress.

EMDR Therapy for PTSD

EMDR treatment focuses on targeting the negative beliefs and emotions that result from trauma and replacing them with new beliefs that empower you to live a more satisfying life. This process, invaluable for making peace with past traumas, is considered a success once you are able to bring up traumatic memories without suffering from them. Our counselors are experienced in guiding EMDR therapy for veterans with PTSD.

Exposure Therapy for PTSD

Prolonged exposure is a type of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) that prepares you to gradually approach memories, emotions, and circumstances that trigger PTSD. When you give in to the natural urge to avoid experiences that remind you of your trauma, you reinforce your fear and anxiety. PE Therapy for PTSD grants the chance to incrementally face what has been avoided, enabling you to reframe the trauma-related memories as not dangerous.

PTSD Therapy for Veterans by Veterans

We have ex-military counselors at Louis Laves-Webb & Associates that specialize in working with veterans. They are driven to provide exceptional PTSD counseling to improve military mental health one patient at a time. We also offer marriage counseling for veterans. It’s our way of saying thank you to veterans.

If you are a Veteran experiencing mental health concerns, don’t hesitate to get support from a mental health professional. All PTSD treatments include a thorough clinical assessment is included. Contact us today to learn more or schedule your appointment.